Popular upland game birds include Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix), Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix), Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), and Starlings (Sturnus sp.).
Common Pheasant: Eurasian Collared Dove:
Other hunted birds include Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonnasia), Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Thrushes (Turdus sp.). Among the most sought-after game birds in Romania is the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), a large turkey-like bird, which have a significant presence in the country. It is hunted during mating season, on snow, when the male becomes deaf and blind to all things around him and can be stalked. Beside taxidermy mounts, unconventional capercaillie trophies are the 400-1000 gastroliths, or gizzard stones.
Hazel Grouse: Wood Pigeon:
Waterfowl hunting also exists in Romania. Sixteen species of duck are present although only the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), the common teal (A. crecca) and the garganey (A. querquedula) are commonly encouraged. Two geese species are important as waterfowl game in Romania: The Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) and the greylag goose (A. anser). Other species are hunted, like coot and cormorants. Shooting waterfowls with lead pellets is forbidden due to toxicity if ingested by other species.
Waterfowl: White-fronted Goose:
The carrion crow (Corvus corone) and magpie (Pica pica) are hunted without restriction or season regulations as pests. On the other hand birds like golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and bustards (Otis tardus) have been hunted to the brink of extinction and are now completely protected.
The carrion crow: Bustards:
The Danube Delta, also known as the "Birds' Paradise" is visited by over 325 species of birds, of which 70 are not from Europe (China, India, Egypt). Aproximatively 170 species hatch, and of these, 130 migrate: those which don’t hatch, are guests for the winter and pass through the spring and autumn. Depending on the geographic region, the birds belong to the following groups: Mediterranean, Siberian, Mongolian, Chinese, Arctic.
It is in the Danube Delta that 60% of the whole population of small cormorant lives. And also 80% of the whole avifauna of Europe can be seen in the Danube Delta. Ten species are protected by law, some being known as nature's monuments, as they are on their way to extinction.
The protected birds can be grouped in 2 classes depending on the colour of their feathers:
- white: the common and the curly pelican, the spoonbill, the small and large egret, the swan
- coloured: the gruide, the eagle.
Common bird dogs are the German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer and setters. Waterfowling retrievers such as the cocker spaniels and labradors are used for waterfowl.
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BIRDS |
DESCRIPTION |
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THE PELICAN |
The greatest colony of pelicans in Europe is found in the Danube Delta. It is a protected species and is the symbol of Danube Delta. It is a summer guest and lives in large colonies, they feed on fish, and have a very interesting way of catching fish in organized groups. During autumn it migrates to warmer areas. |
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THE SWAN |
Is a large water bird that belongs to Anatidae family of birds. Is larger than a goose, it has a white or very rarely, black plumage, and can be easily recognized by its long, slender and slightly curbed neck. It has a black bumb on the peak and a black line at its base. It is a very beautiful and elegant bird. The feet of the swan are palmed and dark grey. The swans leave isolated from the rest of the birds due to the fact that they don’t tolerate any other species of birds. The male and female resemble and usually, mate for life. In general, they feed with water plants. The flight of the swan is graceful, with slow wing movements. When they migrate, the swans fly in V-shaped flocks. The baby birds are covered with grey down, get permanent plumage and are able to fly from the age of 14-16 weeks. |
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THE CORMORANT |
There are 2 species of cormorant in the Danube Delta: the small one and the big one. These birds eat a large amount of fish and sometimes they hunt along with the pelikans. The two cormorants are resting on a small rest of reed islet, somewhere on the Rotund lake. |
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THE COOT |
The are medium-sized water birds which are members of the rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus Fulica. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water. These birds are omnivorous, taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs. Are aggressively during the breeding season, but otherwise are often found in sizeable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer. There are permanent guests in the Danube Delta. |
